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USB Reversable Cable Images Emerge
Lucas123 writes: "A presentation released today by Intel revealed images of the USB 3.1 Type-C cable and connectors, which is symmetrical and will no longer require a user to correctly orient the plug. Initially, the USB 3.1 Type-C specification will support up to 10Gbps data transfer speeds. The Type-C connectors resemble those of Apple's Thunderbolt cabling in that they are much smaller than today's USB SuperSpeed connectors. The receptacle opening is 8.3mm x 2.5mm.The first iteration will have a 5 volt power transfer rate, but it is expected to deliver up to 100 watts for higher power applications in the future."
Remember when you said that a symmetrical connector with pins on both sides was too expensive?
Well get stuffed. USB plugs were badly designed from the beginning.
No no, reversable. You're "able" to reverse it, see?
I don't want to sneak peak, but "5 volt power transfer rate" makes strictly NO SENSE. The "volt" is not a unit of power...
Damn incompetent journalists ...
Please find one that has the explanation of a joke.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
https://xkcd.com/927/
My other signature is a car
I loved "The first iteration will have a 5 volt power transfer rate".
Classic.
Well, so much for the USB superposition...
And I worry about 100W @ 5V, that's 20 A!
Sounds a bit troublesome through these small connectors.
"The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
Seriously, why can't we have cables that fit into each other as well as be symmetrical. Oh wait, that's thanks to the patent system. At least this is progress and maybe we will have one standard for most types of application (not holding my breath).
"The first iteration will have a 5 volt power transfer rate, but it is expected to deliver up to 100 watts for higher power applications in the future."
That's a magnificent sentence there!
I have no idea what a 5 volt power transfer rate is. 5 volts is an electric potential. Power isn't transferred either, power is an instantaneous quantity, whose effect is work (or energy if you prefer). In a DC circuit, power is defined by the product of potential and current, meaning "5V" is meaningless as a description of power, just as "10N" is useless to define a torque.
Add to that the fact that 100W at 5V implies 20A implies that the 100W will not be available at 5V. 20A require enormous (by computing standards) cables.
The 100W case will be 20volts at 5amps
It's in the Intel pdf file at https://intel.activeevents.com/sz14/connect/fileDownload/session/3446B9E71F4FD3D70D8FB478DA239801/SZ14_HSTS002_100_ENGf.pdf
You see, it is listed:
http://www.dumbtionary.com/word/reversable.shtml
- 100 amp mosfets in TO-220 packages with the thin tab. First time I saw this I thought it's going to catch fire. Lots of cheapo UPSes work like this now, and they *do* pass hundred of amps through the flimsiest of materials. So it gets hot, so? It'll last one day past the warranty and that's all it needs to do.
- Brushless motor controllers for RC toys. 35 amps through 14 gauge wire with 200C silicone sheath. Hey, it only runs for 10 minutes anyways!
- 180 amp brushless controllers. Motors the size of a Coke can rated for 6KW. Yes 6 kilowatts. Granted, they're water cooled, but I would have thought this is the equivalent of a tankless water heater and the boat could have just worked off the steam generated!
Obviously, previous design rules WRT to current were too conservative. Look at your dryer plug, and look at a RC boat's (or any battery powered toy) connectors. But I predict fires in any case as manufacturers start counting strands in the wires...
Mostly random stuff.
the current carrying capacity is also dependent on the voltage and the frequency. Frequency is probably not an issue here, but the voltage may be a factor.
Huh. I learned a new term today.... Ampacity
I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
The same document in page 14 limits the 60W and 100W profiles to the A and B type. So the C type is probably limited to 36W.
thin little thing inside to break. Complete fail. they just need to do a copy of the fraking lightning connector but made some technology advances to it. Apple does not have a patent on exposed pin connectors.
Apple got the lightning connector right, just give us a USB3.0 version of the fracking thing and put the craptastic mini/micro/and nano usb plugs to death already.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
FireWire is a keyed-connector. That doesn't prevent them from being plugged in backward. As I have done on more than one occasion where the socket was "loose", allowing the keying to not work, allowing the plug to be plugged in backward.
Which promptly puts up to 45 Watts of power into the data pins.
Which tends to fry the device.
Cables that can't be plugged in wrong because there IS NO "wrong" are best - just plug it in. Don't worry about how you're plugging it in, if it seems like it will fit, it's good.
Another non-functioning site was "uncertainty.microsoft.com."
The purpose of that site was not known.
6KW brushless motor... that's 95% efficient dissipates only 500W.
35A through 14awg wire... Yes it's a bit much, but the 90 degree rating for 14awg is continuous 25A.
If you compare mains plugs to RC plugs, you've got zinc coated contacts with a mild pressure spring contact. RC connectors are usually gold plated bullet type with a lot higher pressure.
The "I wouldn't design it that way" crowd rarely sound experienced or responsible. USB connectors, especially the full-size ones, have remarkably few problems:
1). The contacts are difficult to damage. Much more difficult than the old D-shell connectors. The D-shell did a pretty good job but if something got inside the D-shell, the pins themselves had almost no strength;
2). I always thought that a connector with no retainers was a clear negative. However I managed to overlook the power plug! Accidental disconnection of a USB device is pretty rare. When it does happen though, you reconnect and carry on. On a plug with fasteners, the fasteners are a hassle even with good thumbscrews. And it raises the possibility that if enough force is applied, the mechanical failure is going to be bad. Better to have an unfastened plug pop out well before then;
3). No custom cables. Yay!
4). No real limits on the number of USB ports. Not a connector issue of course.
5). So the major issue is, the plug can be reversed or accidentally plugged in to an e-SATA port. The latter is rare because e-SATA isn't standard on many machines. So if the plug don't fit, reverse it!
I will say that mini-USB seems to have more problems. Many connections are too tight and a cheapo connector shell can come apart.
But if you plug it in the other way round won't the phone charge the car's battery, and the 1's become 0's on the data?
I feel bad, I should've sourced where I got the saying from. To quote wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiot_proof) which more eloquently describes the origin of the saying I used to post in my cubicle which is a quote of Douglas Adams from Mostly Harmless.
So when you plug in a cable, the logo on the top is always correct. When it is a sideways plug, you are on your own. :)
I have a few cables which violate this spec (despite the USB spec being quite clear on this point). I'm not sure if it's a manufacturing error (cable assemblies sent to the molding process upside-down) or the manufacturer just being egotistical ("We want our logo to be visible to the user"). Western Digital, I'm looking at you...
I really ought to toss them (along with my collection of USB 1.1 cables and hubs).
Perhaps the question is whether both ends of the cable is the same.
The 3.1 micro B shown in the figure has different ends, the C version is the same at both ends (and of course the plug on each end is reversible).
I look first when I'm not familiar with the device.
Really? You look at your phone when plugging it in while dark with your night vision? You always spend the time to examine both the connector and the cable before attempting to plug it in? If so you are the ONLY one who does.
For a cable that is going to see as much insertion and removal as a USB cable you shouldn't have to look. Ever. It should be entirely doable by feel on the first go. I don't love the Apple Lighting connector but this is one thing it did right. It's easy to insert by feel. Much easier than any currently available USB connector.
Most of the complaints seem to come from people who have been using USB products for years and are still having orientation issues with it, though. I find that hard to fathom.
If pretty much everyone who ever uses USB regularly tries to insert the connector backwards then that is a problem with bad design. Period. If you find that hard to fathom then you really need to get a good whack with a cluebat.
> Which promptly puts up to 45 Watts of power into the data pins.
That's why it's called "FIREwire" ;-)